Blinding Mirror

by Shelley Halima

  She knew Isabella was jealous of the relationship she and Lourdes shared and decided to play on it. “If I tell you something, do you swear not to tell either of your sisters?”

  “Sure, I swear.”

  “You may think Lourdes is my so-called favorite but that’s just because she was with me all the time. I know if you were allowed to live with me, you and I would be the closest. I really believe that.”

  Seeing the emotion in Isabella’s eyes let Olivia know she struck just the nerve she was looking for.

  “Do you mean that, Mom?”

  “I truly do.”

  “But it seemed like a lot of the time you didn’t even know I was there.”

  “You’re right. I didn’t give you much attention and it was because I was so scared of getting closer to you and having your father turn you against me like he did Sofia. I couldn’t bear opening up those floodgates and having you...” She paused as if she were overcome with emotion. “I’m sorry. All I know is I want to make up for lost time with my daughter. And I don’t want us to let anyone interfere with that. Not Lourdes and not Sofia. Agreed?”

  “Agreed.”

  Isabella had been feeling down about the breakup with Zahira and the tension between her and Sofia. Yet, hearing her mother say this, made everything else fade away. No matter what Sofia or anyone else said, her mother loved her.

  Olivia took out her compact mirror and put a little powder on her nose and chin. She frowned as she looked in the mirror.

  “What’s wrong, Mom?”

  “These darned crow’s feet. I’ve tried everything I could to get rid of them. It’s so depressing sometimes. I would love to get married again and get it right this time. Yet, I’m out here competing with perfect little twenty-year-olds. I’ve been looking into some plastic surgeons but the really good ones with excellent reputations are out of my price range right now.”

  “Don’t worry about that. I think you’re beautiful and wouldn’t change anything. But if you’re unhappy, why don’t you go ahead and schedule an appointment with the doctor of your choice. I’ll cover all the expenses.”

  “Oh sugar plum, I couldn’t ask you to do that. The doctors I checked into are so expensive.”

  “It’s fine, really. I want to do this for you.”

  “The thing is I wanted to get…this is so embarrassing.”

  “What is it?”

  “I want to go up a cup size. As you can see you and Sofia didn’t get your bust size from me. I’m looking to get some implants. You know have everything done at once. I’m not trying to look like Pamela Anderson or anything, just to be a bit bigger.”

  “Mom, I’ll take care of all it.”

  “You will? It’s not too much?”

  “Of course not. So it’s a done deal.”

  Olivia grabbed Isabella’s hand. “Thank you! You’re such a sweet daughter.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  She was pleased do something that would make her mother happy.

  Olivia grinned at Isabella. There was so much more she intended for her daughter to pay for. Picking up the tab for her plastic surgery was only the beginning.

  Chapter 54

  “Grace, are you sure you don’t mind me leaving early yet again?” asked Sofia.

  Grace cut her eyes from the clipboard she was writing on.

  “If you ask me that one more time, I’m going to smack you. I can handle things for a couple of hours ‘til lights out. Now where are you two headed off to?”

  “We’re going to dinner and then he wants to drive to Sweetwater Lake.”

  “How romantic!”

  “Is it? I’ve never been there.”

  “I went there a couple of times with the sanfi Tyler. It’s very nice and peaceful.”

  “I’m glad you’re finally going to meet him.”

  “Me too. I’ve got to see the man who has you all a twitter,” chuckled Grace.

  “A twitter?”

  “Hush. If he’s picking you up, what are you doing with your car?”

  “Isabella is going to have Jeremy pick her up and drop her off and she’ll drive it home.”

  “How is Isabella?”

  “Don’t ask. Mother put a pod under her bed and it took. She came home yesterday in an outfit that looked straight out of Lourdes’s closet. I’m kind of ticked with Isabella because she opened her big mouth to Mother about Javier.”

  “Uh oh.”

  “Of course Mother called, questioning me about him. I don’t know why she’s so nosy when she couldn’t care less about me. First thing she wants to know is what he does. Then she asks me about his name.”

  “What about his name?”

  “She had the nerve to ask, ‘He isn’t Mexican is he?’”

  “Why am I not surprised? She acts as if it causes her indigestion to even speak to me.”

  “I know. It’s not as if she’s some snow queen or something.”

  “Truth be told, she looks a lot like some of my fair-skinned relatives in Jamaica.”

  “I recall you showing me pictures and you’re right. If I can help it, Javier isn’t going anywhere near Mother or sister dear any time soon.”

  They were interrupted by a knock on the office door.

  “Come in!” Grace responded.

  Zahira opened the door with a mischievous grin on her face. “Sofia, your visitor is here.”

  “He is? He’s a little early.” She ran her fingers through her hair.

  “You look great,” said Grace.

  “Can you please show him in?” Sofia ran her fingers through her hair once more.

  “Sure thing.” Zahira left to get Javier.

  Sofia got her purse out of the drawer and laid it on top of the desk. She crossed her legs and clasped her hands, trying her best to appear calm and collected. Grace let out a giggle and covered her mouth.

  “Shh, over there. I’m trying to look cool.”

  “But you’re looking like you’re about to give the State of the Union Address. Relax, dawta, relax.”

  Javier peeked his head in and then entered.

  “Hi ladies.”

  “Hey you.” Sofia got up and walked to him. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “Javier, this is my very best friend Grace Toussaint. Grace this is Javier Torres.”

  Grace stood up from behind her desk and extended her hand. Javier leaned toward her to shake it.

  “Very nice to meet you, Mr. Torres.”

  “Same here Ms. Toussaint.”

  They both laughed at their formalities. Sofia couldn’t help but smile with relief. They looked as if they were hitting it off already.

  “I’ve heard a lot of great things about you.”

  “Oh really?” Javier looked at Sofia. “You left out that bad part I hope.”

  “No, but she understood.”

  “I didn’t lose points?” Javier asked Grace.

  “Not really. But you do have a slight probationary period for making such snarky remarks.”

  “How can I make up for that?”

  Grace waved her hand. “The office is filled to the gills with roses so you’re on your way. So how do you like our spa that we are so serious about?”

  “I’m never going to live that down.”

  Grace and Sofia exchanged smiles. Javier glanced at them both.

  “You two are enjoying making me squirm aren’t you?”

  “Yes we are!” answered Grace. “We’re just teasing you.”

  “I think you both did a bang up job with this place. As soon as you walk through the door an instant calmness comes over you. It’s very serene. I like that.”

  “Think we should let him off probation for that compliment?” Grace asked Sofia.

  “I believe so. He sounded awfully sincere. I think he meant it.”

  “Yes, so do I. My full assessment of his aura isn’t complete but I think he might pass the muster.”

  Javier let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God. I know
how hard it is to pass muster with, as you ladies say, the BFF.”

  “So I hear you have brothers but they’re back in Chicago and they’re married.”

  “Yep. Did Sofia tell you about my friend Lorenzo?”

  “Just that he’s on the market.”

  “He does graphic design work and shares custody of his little girl named Skye who just turned five. Lorenzo’s a good guy who works hard. Maybe the four of us can get together one night and hang out.”

  Grace folded her arms and nodded. “As long as he’s a decent man and hard worker it’s a go. Beyond that I’m not fenky-fenky.”

  Javier looked puzzled.

  “That means picky.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  “I look forward to meeting your friend.”

  “I’ll call him tomorrow and get the ball rolling.”

  “Sounds terrific. All right you two. Get on and enjoy yourselves. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Javier.”

  “Same here.” He shook her hand again. “Are you ready?” he asked Sofia.

  “Indeed I am. I’ll see you later, girl.” Sofia gave her a wink.

  As soon as Sofia and Javier left, Grace plopped down in her chair and fanned herself.

  “Good heavens he is something! Sofia—you lucky girl!”

  Chapter 55

  “Are you comfortable?” Javier asked.

  “Very.”

  They were snuggled together on a bench and looking out on Sweetwater Lake.

  “I’m glad you told me to bring a sweater.”

  “Me, Lorenzo and another friend of ours come out here to fish once in a while and I know how chilly it be at night this time of year on the water.”

  “This is so nice.”

  “It is isn’t it?”

  “Is this where you bring all your ladies?”

  “Nope, I’ve only been out here with the fellas.” He chuckled and quickly added, “To fish like I said. Don’t get any funny ideas.”

  “I didn’t say a word,” Sofia said, amused.

  Javier brushed his lips across the top of her head, feeling the silkiness of her hair. He moved his mouth to her forehead and to the tip of her nose.

  “Hey, let’s go down to the edge of the dock,” Sofia said, standing up.

  “Sure,” he responded, slightly bewildered.

  Sofia took his hand and led him down to the dock. When they got there, she stood facing the water and he wrapped his arms around her from behind. They marveled at the beauty of moon shining down on the lake, its light dancing on the ripples of the water. Sofia eyed the trees that lined the water’s edge.

  “Although we’re not too far from downtown Atlanta,” Sofia began, “we might as well be a million miles away. There’s no booming music from cars, honking horns from impatient drivers—just peace and quiet.”

  “I know. Beautiful isn’t it? Just like you.”

  “Thank you.”

  For a few minutes they fell into a comfortable silence.

  “Amo-o para fora aqui. Deixe-nos fazê-lo nosso lugar especial.”

  “What did you just say?”

  “I said I love it out here. Let’s make it our special place. I don’t think I told you but my mother is Portuguese. She doesn’t know the language but I took a class to learn some of it.”

  “I didn’t know you were mixed with Portuguese. That’s what you meant when you said all you had from your mother’s side of the family was your heritage.”

  “Yep. Do you speak Spanish?”

  “Not really. I know a little bit. I plan on learning more. I’ll probably get those language audiotapes. I’ve always felt funny about not knowing Spanish. Especially the times when I run up on another Latino who speaks the language and they instantly start speaking it, assuming that I do as well. It’s kind of messed up when I have to stop them and tell them I don’t speak Spanish. It’s the look I get, you know?”

  “I understand. My father was three parts Maltese and I tried picking up that language too but just couldn’t really get a handle on it. And my father only spoke a little so I didn’t get much help from him. I think it would be great if you learned Spanish. I’ve always wanted to learn Spanish so maybe we can learn together.”

  “I’d like that. You’re quite an interesting combination—Maltese and Portuguese.”

  “And with some Scottish thrown in.”

  Javier brushed his lips on her neck and planted light kisses on it.

  “Sofia?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Do I need a breath mint?”

  She let out a raucous laugh. “No! Why would you ask me that?”

  “I’ve counted about three times where we’ve come close to kissing–twice the night at my place and just a few minutes ago at the bench–and you turn away. So, I was wondering if I needed to pop a tic tac in my mouth or something.”

  “Absolutely not, silly. It’s just that...I don’t know.”

  “Go on.”

  She turned around to face him. “I’m going to be perfectly blunt. I’ve always been able to wait a good amount of time before going all the way with a man. But with you, there’s such an attraction, a deep attraction, I’m scared if I even get things going I won’t be able to stop myself.”

  “Let me tell you a story. There was this guy named Jack who was really feeling this new girl he met. She was feeling him, too. She didn’t want Jack to think she was a bad girl or fast so she put off being intimate with him. Well, as it turns out Jack ended up in a fatal accident.”

  “Oh no! What happened?”

  “He took a tumble down this hill and broke his neck in the process. The girl was left filled with remorse because she would never know what it was like to be with him in that special way. Poor Jill, she was never the same.”

  Sofia pushed Javier in the chest.

  “Jack. Jill. Hill. You totally made that up!” She laughed.

  “What? I said it was a story. I didn’t say it was a true story. But somewhere in the world I’m sure something like that happened. Maybe their names weren’t Jack and Jill...” He chuckled as he drew Sofia into an embrace.

  “This is the deal. I’d much rather you’re real with me and go with your feelings. If you wanted to go at it on my deck that first night I wouldn’t have thought bad of you.”

  “Really?” Sofia sounded skeptical.

  “I want a woman that goes for what she wants when she wants it and not put it off to the so-called appropriate time. Maybe there’s still some of the rebel left in me but I hate rules like that. I don’t want us to be caught up in the moment and have it shut down because the calendar says it hasn’t been long enough. You know what I mean?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  She wrapped her arms around him and tilted her head up closer to his. He put his mouth on hers and at first just let their lips touch. Slowly, their lips moved into a soft kiss. Their kiss quickly became ardent and they didn’t break it until they both became aware of a commotion going on behind them.

  Javier looked over his shoulder and then back to her.

  “Looks like the park is closing. They have lousy timing.”

  Sofia’s head and desires were undergoing an internal battle. Her head was telling her she and Javier should make plans for another date and then have him drop her off at home. But her desires were pulling her in a different direction. And it was a direction she’d never been and never thought she would be. When it came to men she always played it by the book and now here she was in the arms of a man who made her want to toss that book into the beautiful lake before them.

  “I guess we’d better go. Do you want to go back to my place?”

  “Javier, take me home.”

  He could barely hide his disappointment. “Okay, if that’s what you want, babe.”

  “I want you to take me home so that I can pick up a few things. Then we can go to your place.”

  Javier drew her in for a brief but deep kiss.

  “You won’t regret this.”
>
  “I hope not.”

  Chapter 56

  Are you really about to do this? Sofia asked herself as she dried her hair. It’s not too late to have him take you back home. You’ve always advised your friends to make a man wait and don’t give it up too soon. Yet here you are in his bathroom about to go meet him in his bedroom. Are you sure you want to do this?

  Sofia looked into the mirror. “Yes.”

  She slipped on her short silk robe over her bra and panties and left out of the bathroom. She found Javier sitting on the edge of his bed flipping through some CDs. He was wearing only a pair of briefs. He leaned over and put in a CD and the room became filled with the sound of soft jazz music. He then became aware of her presence. He turned his head and when he saw her, a slow grin made its way across his face.

  “I thought I’d put on some mood music.”

  He got up and went to the edge of the bed to sit. He reached his hand out to her and as she took it, she used her other hand to close her robe. Seeing his impeccably muscular body with not an ounce of fat on it, made her feel a modicum of insecurity about her voluptuous frame.

  He pulled her towards him until she was positioned between his legs. He moved her hand away from holding her robe. He reached up and slipped her robe off her shoulders and to the floor. He placed his hands on her hips and planted gentle kisses on her round belly. For some reason him doing that put her more at ease. She ran her hands over his head, caressing the wavy texture of his hair. Javier leaned back on the bed, pulling her on top of him. His hands traveled over her backside to her buttocks. As he squeezed it he pressed his hips towards hers. She followed his lead and began to move her hips also. She bent her head down to kiss him. She then sat up in the straddle position to unhook and remove her bra. Javier felt himself grow even more erect as he saw her full breasts released from her bra. He pulled her back down and guided her upward till her breasts fell in his face. With a sensual languor he tongued her tiny, yet hardened pink buds eliciting a soft moan from her. He then shifted their positions so that he was on top of her.

  He looked down at her flushed face. “You’re so beautiful. Do you know that?”